KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
26-Apr-2024
Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer, Sibin C, recently reported that law enforcement agencies in the state have seized illicit goods and assets totalling INR 321.51 crore since the implementation of the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls. The seizures included drugs valued at INR 287.23 crore, unaccounted cash totalling INR 6.89 crore, and 22.8 lakh litres of liquor worth INR 14.93 crore. Additionally, precious metals and other items worth INR 12.46 crore were confiscated. The Punjab Police spearheaded the enforcement efforts with seizures worth INR 276.19 crore, followed by the Border Security Force (BSF) with INR 22.85 crore. Other agencies, including the state excise department, state GST department, customs department, income tax department, and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), also contributed to the crackdown, seizing goods ranging from INR 1.76 crore to INR 7.21 crore. Among districts, Amritsar led with seizures amounting to INR 60.3 crore, followed by Tarn Taran with INR 53.74 crore, Ferozepur with INR 49.34 crore, and Fazilka with INR 41.71 crore.
26-Apr-2024
Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikrant Bhushan recently revealed that the drug trafficking network in Sirsa district in Haryana, bordering Punjab and Rajasthan, has seen a significant rise, with women increasingly participating in the trade. Since 2023, around 50 women have been arrested under the NDPS Act: 36 in 2022, 39 in 2023, and 11 in 2024 so far. Despite police efforts, over 200 women are reportedly involved, often alongside family members. Constraints such as the requirement for female police officers during evening/night questioning hinder police action. Female officers are now deployed in every station to tackle this issue, as women's involvement strengthens the trafficking network, primarily dealing in substances like chitta, heroin, opium, and poppy husk.
26-Apr-2024
The Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with central agencies and the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police, on April 26 arrested gangster Charanjit Singh alias Raju Shooter and his 10 aides and seized four weapons - one double-barrel rifle and three pistols, along with 26 cartridges during a 48-hour operation in Punjab and J&K. Raju Shooter's aides include Husanpreet Singh alias Husan, Gulab Singh alias Gulab, Amritpal Singh alias Chidi, Baljinder Singh alias Lokka, Bobby, Lovpreet Singh alias Love, Amritpal Singh alias Sandeep Singh, Sajan alias Kalu, Sukhchain Singh alias Mogali, and Harmesh Singh alias Chichu. This operation followed Raju Shooter's escape from Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran, where he was receiving treatment. Raju Shooter, a key figure in an organized criminal gang in the Majha region, has been implicated in various crimes, including a foiled bank robbery in September 2023.
25-Apr-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) along with the Punjab Police, in a joint operation on April 25 recovered a drone from a farming field adjacent to Khemkaran village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a China-made DJI Matrice 300 RTK.
25-Apr-2024
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a key accused, Inderpal Singh Gaba, on April 25 in New Delhi, in connection with the violent attack on the High Commission of India in London, United Kingdom (UK), in March 2023. Gaba, a UK citizen of Afghan descent, claimed coercion into participating during the incident while celebrating his birthday in London. The NIA has not disclosed Gaba's exact role in the attack or his affiliation with pro-Khalistani leaders.
25-Apr-2024
Tarsem Singh, the father of jailed Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De (WPD) Amritpal Singh, clarified on April 25 in Dibrugarh, Assam, that no final decision has been made regarding Amritpal’s potential candidacy from the Khadoor Sahib constituency in Punjab. Tarsem, accompanied by Amritpal’s maternal uncle Sukhchain Singh and Amarjeet Singh, uncle of Amritpal’s aide Papalpreet Singh, expressed difficulty in having a detailed conversation with Amritpal due to jail restrictions. He refuted claims made by Amritpal's legal counsel, Rajdev Singh Khalsa, about his agreement to contest the Lok Sabha polls, calling it a hasty announcement possibly based on misconception.
25-Apr-2024
A high-level delegation from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on April 25, in New Delhi, met with Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to request a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the April 13 murder of Punjab VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar. Alleging a conspiracy involving Pakistan, they called for transferring the investigation from Punjab Police to the NIA, citing previous killings of Hindu leaders in the state. They emphasized that the apprehended assailants were merely foot soldiers of these foreign-based entities.
25-Apr-2024
The Mumbai Police on April 25 arrested two persons in connection with the recent firing outside actor Salman Khan’s house, identified as Sonu Subhash Chander and Anuj Thapan from Bhawanigarh in Sangrur district in Punjab. They are alleged to have provided country-made pistols and cartridges to the shooters on March 15, 2024. Thapan had direct contact with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi, who are wanted in the case. The investigation is ongoing.
24-Apr-2024
Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh’s legal counsel Rajdev Singh Khalsa, on April 24, stated that Amritpal Singh is purportedly preparing to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from the Khadoor Sahib seat in Tarn Taran district in Punjab. Khalsa mentioned that Amritpal has agreed to enter politics for the interests of the Khalsa Panth, as communicated during their meeting at Dibrugarh Jail in Assam, where Amritpal is currently held. However, Amritpal’s father, Tarsem Singh, refrained from commenting until meeting his son, considering Amritpal's previous disinterest in politics.
24-Apr-2024
Police on April 24 arrested Gurpreet Ram alias Gora, a shooter associated with a terror module funded and operated by foreign-based handlers from Portugal, and seized a pistol and seven live cartridges from him in Rupnagar in Rupnagar district. Gora, connected to the same handlers involved in the recent target killing of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Bagga, was intercepted and apprehended before carrying out additional attacks planned by the terror network.
24-Apr-2024
Police on April 24 registered a case against three individuals identified as Arvinder Singh, Kulvir Singh, and Raghvir Singh for supplying chitta (heroin), following a complaint filed by Malkit Kaur, whose son died after injecting himself with chitta in Shahpur Kalan village in Sangrur district of Punjab. Later, police arrested Kulvir Singh based on the complaint.
24-Apr-2024
Police on April 24 arrested two unidentified individuals, including a woman, with 100 grams of heroin near Gobindpura Nagri village in Sangrur district in Punjab. A case has been registered against them at the Chhajli police station regarding this incident.
24-Apr-2024
Fazilka police on April 24 arrested three persons, identified as Sonu Singh, Angrej Singh and Gurbant Singh, and seized 1 kg of heroin and 130 bottles of illicit liquor, from their possession, near Dhani Natha Singh village in Fazilka district.
23-Apr-2024
An Australian journalist, identified as Avani Dias, the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), stated on April 23 that she was forced to leave India because her work visa wasn't extended, citing her reportage on the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as the likely reason. Dias's documentary on the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was removed from YouTube India, with the Indian government accusing her of biased reporting and lacking necessary permissions. Meanwhile, an official from the Indian government disputed this claim, stating that Dias left due to personal reasons and timing for another job.
23-Apr-2024
Punjab Police on April 23 arrested an unidentified member of a terror module who was being controlled by Pakistan-based operatives and seized a Chinese pistol and cartridges from his possession in Jalandhar in Jalandhar district.
23-Apr-2024
According to reports, the ongoing 'rail roko' protest by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) at Shambhu railway station near Rajpura in Patiala district, Punjab, has caused significant disruptions to railway operation, resulting in over INR 25 lakh in losses for the railways and the cancellation of 41 passenger trains daily. Approximately 4,765 passengers were affected, leading to refunds for disrupted travel plans. Additionally, 60 trains were diverted, and five were terminated prematurely.
22-Apr-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on April 22 arrested a Pakistani national near the International Border (IB) after he illegally crossed into Indian territory, in Amritsar sector in Amritsar district. No objectionable items were found in his possession, and following initial questioning, he was transferred to Punjab Police for further investigation.
22-Apr-2024
The Border Security Force (BSF) on April 22 recovered a China-made drone from fields adjacent to Wan village in Tarn Taran district. The recovered drone was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model.
22-Apr-2024
A special court on April 22 sentenced retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Haqiqat Rai, Swaran Singh, and Mahant Bikram Nath to 12 years in prison and fined them INR 1.5 lakh each in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case in Mohali, Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar district. The trio was arrested by the Special Task Force in 2018 with 15 kg of opium.
22-Apr-2024
Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) recently reissued orders to remove images of Sikh militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from its buses, marking a reversal of a similar directive issued two years ago. The move stirred memories of events from July 2022 when PRTC initially instructed all its depots to strip the buses of Bhindranwale and Jagtar Singh Hawara's images, labelling them as terrorists. Protests by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) compelled PRTC to retract its orders, acknowledging its mistake in labelling them as terrorists.
22-Apr-2024
Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) recently reissued orders to remove images of Sikh militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from its buses, marking a reversal of a similar directive issued two years ago. The move stirred memories of events from July 2022 when PRTC initially instructed all its depots to strip the buses of Bhindranwale and Jagtar Singh Hawara's images, labelling them as terrorists. Protests by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) compelled PRTC to retract its orders, acknowledging its mistake in labelling them as terrorists.
22-Apr-2024
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on April 22 arrested Amandeep Singh, the mastermind behind a fatal attack on Punjab Police home guard Jaspal Singh in November 2023, from the Alambagh area in Lucknow, UP. The ATS acted on information provided by the Punjab police, which revealed Singh's involvement in drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
22-Apr-2024
Dr. Jitendra Awhad, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar) General Secretary and former Maharashtra Minister, on April 22 received an extortion threat from the Bishnoi gang, echoing a recent incident involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan. Awhad was contacted by an individual claiming allegiance to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who demanded a substantial sum under the threat of dire consequences, mirroring Khan's situation. While Awhad has not filed a formal complaint yet, he plans to inform the Thane Police about the threat and take appropriate action.
22-Apr-2024
On April 22, a member of the Gogi gang, identified as Narender Malik was shot dead by four unidentified attackers in the Alipur area of North Delhi district in Delhi. The attack took place around 2 pm while Malik was in a Tata Ace vehicle with his associates Tarun and Amit. The assailants arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire. Amit managed to escape, but Tarun sustained critical injuries. The police suspect gang rivalry as the motive, considering Malik's affiliation, and are investigating all possible angles.
22-Apr-2024
Mohali Police recently arrested five sharp shooters of Lawrence Bishnoi gang identified as Harshpreet Singh, Rajveer Singh, Kartik alias Ashu, Ramandeep, and Jaideep, and seized five sophisticated country-made pistols, one rifle and ammunition from their possession, in Mohali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS) district. According to Police, Kartik, with a personal vendetta, orchestrated the acquisition of weapons and had direct connections with Jaideep, a sharpshooter affiliated with Mintu Muddesan, who operates under the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Kartik, along with Ramandeep, engaged Harshpreet and Rajveer to form their own gang for retaliatory actions against local rivals.